Main Street, St. Helena

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

These photos were taken in my old college town of St. Helena, in the Napa Valley during alumni weekend. To say there was a bit of a heatwave that day would be an understatement (check out my dewy skin!). St. Helena holds so many cherished memories for me; Taylor's Refresher (now "Gott's) and their delicious mango milkshakes, Footcandy and their designer shoes that I always dreamed of someday wearing, and Giugni's, the sandwich shop of the gods.

It is always a joy returning to the Napa Valley. There is no other place
in all of Northern California that feels more like home to me. I love
the Calistoga / St. Helena / Angwin area. In the spring the valley is
bursting with life - it's like a grand duchess who has been asleep all
winter is finally awake and ready to show off all her riches; Fields come alive in yellow and purple flowers, Highway 12 is once again lined with trees in bloom, and the vineyard rows create a fan pattern as they are driven past.

During my visit I somehow managed to match the valley in all its
greenery. I only own three green items, and the only missing one from
this outfit is a Kelly green cardigan that my mother purchased for me
years ago. It isn't a color that I wear (or even think of) too often.
Much like purple, green simply isn't one of those colors that I
naturally gravitate towards. However it was my Cobb Hill Shoes that inspired this outfit; The bits of lime green detail sparked the idea of wearing green from head to toe. Of course, breaking up the shades of green and mixing the fabrics prevented the outfit from feeling over-saturated. As for the shoes I couldn't have asked for a better pair: they are light as air, breathe well in humidity, and are oh so comfortable.

I worked two jobs my last year in college: at the Safeway bakery, and at The Culinary Institute as a hostess and barista. And - for those of you who know how this blog got started, you will remember that I was also taking two internships and 18 units of classes! I was busy. But I graduated with Honors, and two degrees, so I am proud.

Perhaps one of the most satisfying moments of the weekend was finding one of my old financial officers and being able to thank him. He had helped me attend my Honors summer session in Paris, and I wouldn't have been able to do it without him. That summer was a pivotal point in my life, and it's one of my most cherished memories. Paris has since taught me many lessons, but mainly it has taught me the art of seduction. I don't think Paris would mean what it does to me today if it hadn't been for that summer class.

There is a saying that says "don't look back - you're not going that way". However I think every once in a while it is important to pause, and to give thanks for how far I have come. Some memories truly aren't to be forgotten, and certainly not those who helped me get to where I am today.